Noise

Noise consists of undesired, usually random variations that interfere with the desired
signals and inhibit communication.

Noise can be divided into two types: Internal noise and External noise.

External noise is a property of the communication channel.

Example:
Static that afflicts radio broadcasting during rainstorms
Interference from automobile ignition systems
Domestic (vacuum cleaners) to industrial equipment cause noise.
Not so obvious source (noise produced by the sun and stars)

1) Equipment noise:
Is generated by equipment that produces sparks (e.g. automobile engines and
electric motors). Also generated by any fast rise time voltage/current that
produces interference. E.g. light dimmers/ computers.
Noise of this type has a broad frequency spectrum, but its energy is not equally
distributed over the frequency range.
Generally more severe at low frequencies.
Solution: For a computer, ensure shielding and grounding of the case and all
connecting cables. Also install a low pass filter on the power line.

2) Atmospheric Noise:
Often called static because lightning which is a static electricity discharge is a
principal source.
Can propagate for long distance through space (most of the energy of lightning is
found at relatively low frequencies MHz)
Solution: Nothing can be done at the source. Circuits to reduce its effect or
NOISE BLANKING. These circuits take advantage of the fact that this noise has
a very high peak to average power ratio. That is, noise occurs in short bursts with
long periods between them. The Receiver is therefore disabled for the duration of
the bursts.

3) Space Noise:
The sun is a powerful source of radiation over a wide range of frequencies
(including radio). Other stars also radiate noise called cosmic, stellar or sky noise
(less than solar).
This provides a problem for satellite communication and noise increases as
frequency increases.

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Internal noise is generated by all electronic equipment.

1) Thermal noise:
Produced by the random motion of electrons in a conductor due to heat.
Is equally distributed over all frequencies.
Solution: Thermal noise exists in all conductors at any temperature above
absolute 0. When temperate decreases, thermal noise decreases
(cryogenics-artificial cooling e.g. liquid nitrogen.) Also, as the bandwidth
of the circuit decreases, so does the thermal noise. (Bandwidth reduction)

2) Shot Noise:
Is also equally distributed across all frequencies.
Is due to random variations in current flow in active devices (tubes,
transistors, semi conductor diodes). These variations are caused by
electrons that cause a current to flow.
The name shot noise describes the random arrival of electrons.

3) Partition Noise:
Occurs only in devices where a single current separates into two or more
paths (e.g. Bipolar Junction Transistor).
As the charge carriers divide into one stream or the other, a random
element in the currents is produced.

Signal to Noise Ratio

For a communications system to work the signal to noise ratio must be high enough
to give good results. The signal to noise ratio is known as the SNR.

The SNR at any point in a telecommunications system is the ratio of signal power to
noise power and is usually expressed in decibels:

SNR = 10 log10 (Sp/Np)

The SNR can also be calculated from the ratio of signal voltage to noise voltage:
SNR = 20 log10 (Sv/Nv)

The minimum acceptable SNR for reliable communications is considered to be about

10dB.

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 Noise Factor and Noise Figure

Noise factor (F) and noise figure (NF) are figures of merit used to indicate how much
the signal to noise ratio deteriorates as a signal passes through a circuit.

Noise factor is simply a ratio of input signal to noise power ratio to output
signal to noise ratio.

F = input signal to noise power ratio/ output signal to noise ratio (unit-less ratio)

Noise figure is simply the noise factor stated in dB and is a parameter

commonly used to indicate the quality of a receiver.

NF(dB) = 10 log (input signal to noise power ratio/ output signal to noise ratio)

Or NF (dB) = 10 log F

Therefore, an amplifier with a noise figure of 6dB means that the signal to noise ratio
at the output is 6dB less than it was at the input.

Noise Temperature, T = N/kB

Where
T = environmental temperature (Kelvin)
N = noise power (watts)
K = Boltzmanns constant (1.38 x 10^ -23J/K)
B = bandwidth (hertz)

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